Women's Ashes 2023

Nat Sciver-Brunt’s Unbeaten Century in vain as Australia clinch last-ball thriller to retain Ashes

July 18, 2023
Yash Tailor

Women’s Ashes commenced on 22nd June 2023 with the one-off Test match, followed by a three-match T20I series and then a three-match ODI series. The home side made a spirited comeback by winning the first ODI as they leveled the score 6-6, after falling behind 0-6 in the Ashes in their bid to regain the Ashes. The Ashes series has come down to the knockout stages. In this article, we will discuss how things panned out in the second ODI at Southampton.

Nat Sciver-Brunt’s Unbeaten Century in vain as Australia clinch a last-ball thriller to retain Ashes. PC: Getty Images
Nat Sciver-Brunt’s Unbeaten Century in vain as Australia clinch a last-ball thriller to retain Ashes. PC: Getty Images

England skipper Heather Knight won the toss and opted to field first at Southampton. Australia got off to a poor start as they lost their opener, Phoebe Litchfield in the second over. Lauren Bell provided the first breakthrough for England, courtesy of a ball that swung back into the left-hander. Lauren Bell came back and picked up the crucial wicket of the Australian skipper Alyssa Healy, courtesy of a lose short, handing an easy catch to Alice Capsey at short third.

With Australia in a bit of trouble on 27/2, Beth Mooney joined Ellyse Perry at the crease, and the duo stabilized the innings with a 61-run partnership for the third wicket. Just when the partnership was looking threatening for the hosts, Mooney gifted her wicket trying to play the pressure-release shot ends up lobbing the ball up in the air, Lauren Bell at short fine leg completes an easy catch to provide the left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone her first wicket of the day.

Australia ended their innings with a competitive total (282/7) on the board, courtesy of a 26-run over from Lauren Bell toward the end. The 81-run partnership between Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland (50 off 47) for the 6th wicket played a crucial role in helping Australia post a competitive total on the board. Ellyse Perry was the top performer for Australia. She scored 91 off 124 balls, falling just 9 short of a well-deserved century. Her knock included nine fours and a maximum. Lauren Bell (3/85) and Sophie Ecclestone (3/40) were the pick of the bowlers for the home side.

Chasing a target of 283, to keep the hopes of regaining the Ashes alive for the hosts. England got off to a solid start, scoring at just under 6 runs an over in the run chase. The leg-spinner Georgia Wareham got the first breakthrough for Australia as she cleaned up the opening batter Sophia Dunkley to end her struggling stay at the crease.

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Skipper Heather Knight joined Tammy Beaumont at the crease but the skipper didn’t last longer in the chase as she was dismissed by the leg-spinner Alana King. Nat Sciver-Brunt joined the opening batter at the crease, however, the leg-spinner struck again this time around dismissing a set batter Tammy Beaumont (60 off 62) who was showing ominous signs in the run chase.

England kept losing wickets at regular intervals post the departure of Tammy Beaumont and since then they never really got the momentum in the run chase. However, Nat Sciver-Brunt kept the fight on from one end to keep the home side in the run chase. Wicket-keeper batter Amy Jones chipped in with a handy contribution (37 off 34) alongside Nat Sciver-Brunt to keep the chase alive. The all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt completed her well-deserved century and stayed unbeaten (111 off 99) right till the end.

Despite her efforts with the bat, England fell short by 3 runs as Australia retained the Ashes with a victory in the 2nd ODI at Southampton. Leg-spinner Alana King (3/44) and Ashleigh Gardner (3/54) were the pick of the bowlers for Australia.

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